Tamil Nadu politics has always revolved around two names: DMK and the AIADMK. But when the election results came in on May 4, 2026, the entire nation was stunned. A film star, once a hero on screen, had now won in real life as well. Actor Vijay’s new party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) made history by becoming the largest party in its very first election. And on 10 May, Vijay was sworn as the 9th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, 2026.
When did the election take place?
Voting for all 234 seats in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly took place on April 23, 2026. This time, voter turnout was 85.1% – the highest ever in the state’s history. This clearly demonstrates the public’s enthusiasm and desire for change.
Results – Who got how many seats?
| Party/Alliance | seats | Situation |
|---|---|---|
| TVK (Vijay)WINNER | 108 | The biggest party |
| DMK + SPA Alliance | 73 | at number two |
| AIADMK + BJP (NDA) | 53 | at number three |
TVK won 108 seats, meaning it needed 10 more to secure a majority. This resulted in a hung assembly —a first in Tamil Nadu.
Biggest blow – CM Stalin loses!
The biggest upset of this election was the defeat of Chief Minister MK Stalin . He lost his Kolathur seat—a seat he had won three consecutive times. On May 5, 2026, Stalin resigned as Chief Minister. This was a major blow to Tamil Nadu politics.
How did Vijay form the government?
The TVK had 108 seats, but needed 118 to form a government. Vijay cleverly aligned himself with the Congress (INC). The Congress left the DMK and joined forces with the TVK. The VCK and IUML also provided outside support. This gave Vijay a total of 120 MLAs.
On May 6, 2026, Vijay met with the Governor and staked claim to form a government. After some dramatic events, Vijay was sworn in as
Why is this election so special?
For the past 59 years, only two parties had alternated in power in Tamil Nadu—the DMK and the AIADMK. This time, a brand new party, in its very first election, completely upended this old system. Vijay didn’t join forces with the BJP or rely on any old power—he fought alone and won.
This election proves that when the public gets tired, it will bring about change – even if that change comes in the form of a movie star.
 made history by becoming the largest party in its very first election. And on 10 May, Vijay was sworn as the 9th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, 2026.){kind=link}